Driving over from Butte to watch this one! Expecting a much better performance defensively from whatever that debacle was on Thursday!
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Vandys game thread
- Thread starter Griz til I die
- Start date
Things I am looking at:
Defensive Match-ups - Idaho has the conference’s best guard-big man duo in Moffitt and Jones. Whitney will obviously draw Moffitt, but who takes Jones? Do you risk Bannan getting in foul trouble which would be disastrous. Even more disastrous would be Jones or Moffitt getting into foul trouble. If this happens, Idaho’s already slim chance of winning goes to zero. Who do Moffitt and Jones guard? Or maybe, just maybe, (clutches pearls) somebody plays . . .
Zone Defense - This makes a lot of sense for both teams. Moffitt and Whitney are almost mirror images. Each is elite at getting to and finishing at the rim, however the athletic Moffitt shoots 22% from 3 and Whitney 23%. Playing man defense against anyone of these guys is suicide. If not, take a page out of EWU’s notebook, heavily sag and beg each to take jumpers. If I see either team trying to guard these guys at the 3 point line I’m going to throw-up in my mouth.
Bannan’s Minutes - If Bannan has to play 38 minutes to beat Idaho at home (38 against EWU), we’ll be looking at Zombie Bannan come Mid-Feb. Get this dude some rest! Get him out around media time-outs to steal additional rest minutes.
Crowd Size - Nice sized crowd for EWU. Is it replicated against a uninspiring opponent for a Saturday afternoon game that starts at the same time as the first CFP semi-final?
Must win? Yes, this is only the 2nd league game, but it feels like a must win to me (this is a fan message board, if you want rational thinking you are in the wrong spot). Starting conference 0-2 at home, losing to the worst team in conference right before hitting a 3 game stretch that includes UNC on the road and a team that may be playing the best in the conference right now (Weber) would seem like a very bad omen.
Defensive Match-ups - Idaho has the conference’s best guard-big man duo in Moffitt and Jones. Whitney will obviously draw Moffitt, but who takes Jones? Do you risk Bannan getting in foul trouble which would be disastrous. Even more disastrous would be Jones or Moffitt getting into foul trouble. If this happens, Idaho’s already slim chance of winning goes to zero. Who do Moffitt and Jones guard? Or maybe, just maybe, (clutches pearls) somebody plays . . .
Zone Defense - This makes a lot of sense for both teams. Moffitt and Whitney are almost mirror images. Each is elite at getting to and finishing at the rim, however the athletic Moffitt shoots 22% from 3 and Whitney 23%. Playing man defense against anyone of these guys is suicide. If not, take a page out of EWU’s notebook, heavily sag and beg each to take jumpers. If I see either team trying to guard these guys at the 3 point line I’m going to throw-up in my mouth.
Bannan’s Minutes - If Bannan has to play 38 minutes to beat Idaho at home (38 against EWU), we’ll be looking at Zombie Bannan come Mid-Feb. Get this dude some rest! Get him out around media time-outs to steal additional rest minutes.
Crowd Size - Nice sized crowd for EWU. Is it replicated against a uninspiring opponent for a Saturday afternoon game that starts at the same time as the first CFP semi-final?
Must win? Yes, this is only the 2nd league game, but it feels like a must win to me (this is a fan message board, if you want rational thinking you are in the wrong spot). Starting conference 0-2 at home, losing to the worst team in conference right before hitting a 3 game stretch that includes UNC on the road and a team that may be playing the best in the conference right now (Weber) would seem like a very bad omen.
“At 6’9” he’s a real load but I don’t know where he’s most dangerous, inside or outside?”
81 of his 103 FGA have come at the rim where he is shooting 79%. He is 2/9 from 3. Your point is well taken. If you have to sacrifice Bannan or DT, you probably want to go with DT which is still not optimal. All the more reason to play zone.
81 of his 103 FGA have come at the rim where he is shooting 79%. He is 2/9 from 3. Your point is well taken. If you have to sacrifice Bannan or DT, you probably want to go with DT which is still not optimal. All the more reason to play zone.
LivingstonNative
Well-known member
Beautiful pass from Nap to Mac for a dunk.
mtgrizrule
Well-known member
Much improved defense this game. Moffitt being held in check.
mtgrizrule
Well-known member
Jones is tough. Reminds me of Kamaar Davis
IdaGriz01
Well-known member
Nice that the Griz can still trade baskets to keep the lead about the same, but wish they could stretch it. And too many Griz have too many fouls. In a sense, foul shots are keeping the Spuds in this game.mtgrizrule said:
Edit: The Eagles are giving MSU quite a tussle. About 7 min left, EWU leads 53-52.
LittleBear
Well-known member
Solid W
We foul a lot. Led by Mack, when we're on defense we don't give up ground or understand angles. Sometimes you get beat off the 1st step & have to catch the move & give up a step to cut off the dribbler. Too many times we body up on the offensive player, especially when they haven't even used their dribble (post defense) so when they make their move we're leaning & hanging.
Josh deserves more minutes.
Loved seeing Whitney hit a couple 3's. If he can hit wide open 3's that will transform the O. If he can hit wide open 3's and free throw jumpers he'll get to the rime whenever he wants
Idaho's big is really good.
We foul a lot. Led by Mack, when we're on defense we don't give up ground or understand angles. Sometimes you get beat off the 1st step & have to catch the move & give up a step to cut off the dribbler. Too many times we body up on the offensive player, especially when they haven't even used their dribble (post defense) so when they make their move we're leaning & hanging.
Josh deserves more minutes.
Loved seeing Whitney hit a couple 3's. If he can hit wide open 3's that will transform the O. If he can hit wide open 3's and free throw jumpers he'll get to the rime whenever he wants
Idaho's big is really good.
Post Game Thoughts:
According to KenPom, Idaho is one of the worst 20 defensive teams in all of college basketball and one of the worst 50 teams.
Montana is substantially better on offense than they are on defense, which is a statement I could never, ever imagine typing.
Idaho’s defensive game plan was sound. They forced Whitney to hit outside shots and he did. They could have accomplished the same thing with about an arm’s length less space on Whitney to contest a little more, but tip your hat to Whitney. Lost in this is that the sagging defense negatively impacted Bannan as the sagging defender made things tough for him. This will be the defensive game plan of every team that plays Montana going forward.
Shout out to Josh Vasquez! Is there a Montana player that has had more of a yo-yo career than him? He stays ready and prepared and took advantage of his opportunity. Much respect.
There is a player that I have no idea why he has always been loved so much by the coaching staff (which impacted minutes the minutes of others, which in turn directly impacted the number of transfers, which in turn negatively impacted the depth of this year’s team). He doesn’t pass the eye test and both the raw numbers and analytics show he should being playing a lot, lot less.
According to KenPom, Idaho is one of the worst 20 defensive teams in all of college basketball and one of the worst 50 teams.
Montana is substantially better on offense than they are on defense, which is a statement I could never, ever imagine typing.
Idaho’s defensive game plan was sound. They forced Whitney to hit outside shots and he did. They could have accomplished the same thing with about an arm’s length less space on Whitney to contest a little more, but tip your hat to Whitney. Lost in this is that the sagging defense negatively impacted Bannan as the sagging defender made things tough for him. This will be the defensive game plan of every team that plays Montana going forward.
Shout out to Josh Vasquez! Is there a Montana player that has had more of a yo-yo career than him? He stays ready and prepared and took advantage of his opportunity. Much respect.
There is a player that I have no idea why he has always been loved so much by the coaching staff (which impacted minutes the minutes of others, which in turn directly impacted the number of transfers, which in turn negatively impacted the depth of this year’s team). He doesn’t pass the eye test and both the raw numbers and analytics show he should being playing a lot, lot less.
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